Coalition 'extreme' for being against US on ceasefire

The coalition on Wednesday criticised Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's call for a ceasefire and de-escalation.

But Senator Wong said the Liberals were now at odds with the international community, including the United States which is pressing for peace.

US Vice President Kamala Harris said her administration was working to secure a ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon.

"(Opposition Leader Peter Dutton) is so focused on dividing Australians over this conflict that he doesn't realise how isolated his position is," Senator Wong said on Sunday.

"We know Mr Dutton is negative about everything but it's pretty extreme to be negative about a ceasefire that saves civilian lives and prevents further disastrous escalation of conflict."

Senator James Paterson says ceasefire will happen "once Hamas is degraded". (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)

Asked about being in disagreement with the nation's closest ally, opposition home affairs spokesman James Paterson said Australia was a sovereign country.

"It wouldn't be remarkable for an Australian politician to disagree with an American politician, particularly the United States administration under President Biden and Vice President Harris, a centre-left administration," he told ABC's Insiders.

"I'm from a centre-right political party, there'll be times that we disagree and mature adults can be open and honest."

Asked if he wanted to see a ceasefire enforced, Senator Paterson said the opposition wanted to see an end to the conflict.

"In my view, that will only happen once Hamas releases the hostages and once Hamas is degraded, so they no longer pose an ongoing threat to Israel from Gaza," he said.

Labor failed to secure bi-partisanship on a motion commemorating the first anniversary of October 7, which Assistant Trade Minister Tim Ayres labelled "deeply disappointing".

More than 1200 Israelis were killed when Hamas launched its attack last year, taking hundreds more hostage.

Almost 42,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel began its retaliatory strikes, with the majority of the strip's population facing displacement and starvation.

About 2400 people fleeing conflict in Lebanon have now landed in Australia, as the final two government-assisted flights prepare to leave Lebanon for Cyprus on Sunday.

There are no further flights scheduled to depart Lebanon beyond Sunday 13 October.— Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade 🇦🇺 (@dfat) Australians in Lebanon should register at https://t.co/M8GVgXtO5S. For 24-hour Consular Assistance call +61 6261 3305 overseas or 1300 555 135 within Australia.October 13, 2024

Interest in free seats out of Beirut has declined sharply in recent days with fewer than 300 aboard two flights to Cyprus that departed on Saturday.

The last two government-chartered flights will leave Beirut on Sunday before the Australian government pulls the pin on the evacuation operation.

Across the 16 taxpayer-sponsored flights, only about 54 per cent of the seats were filled despite 2571 Australians and their immediate family members registering as wanting to depart Lebanon.  

Those still in Lebanon wanting to leave will need to resort to local carrier Middle East Airlines or other commercial airlines.

One final Qantas flight is due to leave Cyprus on Wednesday evening but the Department of Foreign Affairs has signalled it is planning for further flights subject to demand.

About 2400 people fleeing conflict in Lebanon have landed in Australia. (Bianca De Marchi/AAP PHOTOS)

The flights followed an escalation in Israel's year-long scuffle with the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah in recent weeks, with a campaign of intense bombings across Lebanon including its capital Beirut.

More than 2200 people have been killed and another 1.2 million have been displaced across a nation about the size of Greater Sydney.

Protesters in Australia have continued to turn out in Perth, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane in support of Lebanon and Palestine following the one-year anniversary of the October 7 conflict.